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US President Donald Trump commuted the sentence of George Santos, a former Republican congressman serving seven years in prison for fraud and identity theft, ordering his immediate release.
In a social media post, Trump said Santos “has been horribly mistreated,” adding, “Therefore, I just signed a bond releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, great life!”
The former lawmaker was only the sixth in US history to be expelled from Congress after a damning ethics report in 2023.
Santos, who admitted to stealing the identities of 11 people — including family members — is currently serving time in a minimum-security prison in New Jersey.
In April, when Santos was sentenced, a judge told him: “You were elected by your words, most of which were lies.”
He reportedly wept in court and begged for forgiveness, saying: “I can’t rewrite the past, but I can control the way forward.”
Prosecutors alleged the fledgling politician lied about his background and misused campaign funds to finance his lifestyle.
In his post, Trump justified the move by criticizing Democratic lawmaker Senator Richard Blumenthal, whom he accused of fabricating his US military service.
“This is far worse than what George Santos did, and at least Santos had the courage, conviction and intelligence to ALWAYS VOTE REPUBLICAN!” Trump wrote.
Trump previously called for an investigation into Blumenthal over the allegation. The Democrat admitted he was repeatedly wrong about his time in the military, but said the mishaps date back more than a decade.
“That claim from 15 years ago was really rejected by Connecticut voters three times, re-electing me overwhelmingly,” Blumenthal told CNN earlier this month.
A lawyer for Santos told The Associated Press it remains unclear when his client will be released.
“The defense team applauds President Trump for doing the right thing,” said Andrew Mancilla.
“The sentence was too long.”
Santos’ downfall began after the New York Times in 2022 published an investigation that revealed the freshman congressman had lied about his resume, including about college education and work for Citigroup and Goldman Sachs.
From there, the lies continued to pile up, including claims that he stole money from a fundraiser for a dying dog and that he lied about his mother, who survived the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Shortly after, local and federal officials began investigating.
He was eventually charged with 23 federal crimes, and in 2023 he became the first member of Congress to be expelled in more than 20 years and only the sixth in history.
A report by the House ethics panel accused him of misusing campaign funds for personal benefits, including Botox and subscriptions to the website OnlyFans.
Santos defeated a Democratic incumbent in 2022, flipping the district that covers parts of Long Island and Queens, New York, where he grew up.
Earlier this week, Santos published an open letter to Trump in Long Island’s South Shore Press newspaper, reiterating his plea for clemency.
The letter, titled “an impassioned plea to President Trump,” asked for “an opportunity to return to my family, friends and community.”
He wrote that he had been held in solitary confinement following a death threat in August and apologized for his actions.
“Mr. President, I am not asking for sympathy. I am asking for justice – for the chance to recover,” he wrote.
“I know I have made mistakes in my past. I have suffered my share of consequences and take full responsibility for my actions.
“But no person, regardless of their flaws, deserves to be lost in the system, forgotten and unseen, suffering a punishment far beyond what justice requires.”
Trump has pardoned at least two other former Republican lawmakers since taking office again in January.
In May, he pardoned former congressman Michael Grimm, who pleaded guilty in 2014 to tax crimes.
He also pardoned former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland, who pleaded guilty in 2004 to corruption and fraud charges.
